Infinti Q50 Release

[audtatious]

So, the Infiniti Q50 was unveiled today via facebook. Full vehicle review is here:

http://infinitiq50.net/2014-infiniti-q50-Overview.html

Notes:
- Retains existing VQ37 w/328hp
- Adds 358hp net 3.5L hybrid option
- Retains existing 7sp automatic with sport modes
- No option for 6MT transmmission
- Retains RWD or AWD options
- Retains sport option with 19" wheels, base is 17" wheels
- Retains Akebono 19" brake option (sport)
- Adds optional Direct Adaptive Steering (independently controls the tire angle and steering inputs allowing more direct performance and improved feedback )
- Add optional Active Lane Control (Lane Departure Prevention system)

New interior and seats. Dual-touch screens. Infiniti Personal Assistant. etc etc etc

Other than the power limits and lack of 6mt it looks good. I was hoping for something that would compete at a higher performance level. Might be something coming out as a 2015.

[audtatious]

No thoughts?

While I don't have a 6mt I hope they bring it back for the 2015 model. I think 328hp is nowhere near where it should be either as it should be closer to 400, IMO. I look at they Genesis R-Spec for appx the same cost and you get a 429hp sedan....granted, it's still a Hyundai. The v6 333hp Hyundai will be close and it's base price is 34k.....still a Hyundai.

New dual touch screens looks interesting, I'll have to get in one and see what I really think.

I'll be car shopping later this year and based on performance value I don't know if the new Q has what I want.

[rmcdavis06]

I heard something about a 4 cylinder turbo engine being worked on with Mercedes for the Q50. What happens to the "IPL brand" with this new vehicle? What in general happens to the resale value of the G37/35, I have a 2011 IPL coupe and with the coupe now at some point becoming the Q60 and with the sporty look of the sedan, guessing the coupe is going to come standard even more sporty than it is now...

[audtatious]

Lots of rumors and speculation were pouring about. For now we know the sedan will continue with the VQ37. The coupe, which will be out next year as a 2015, is another matter. It may or may not have the VQ37 or something different with estimates ranging to a AMG V8.....The IPL is supposed to be more than just a slight suspension and face upgrade with the new coupe with the possibility of a 540hp model being offered at a VERY hefty price.

[superuber]

Why didn't they use the 5.6L? It has 420 hp.

[joe603]

Good question...lack of power is part of why I sold my G37. I've been waiting for the Infiniti GTR to come out (Think CTS-V)

[Cobra_Kai_84]

Infiniti's website now has a cool presentation on the new Q50. I like almost all the enhancements. The LED headlamps and the upgraded interior (dual touch screens) are especially nice. It's like they put on all the bells and whistles that have been missing the last 6 years, but disregarded any need to change the engine/performance. They needed something to differentiate themselves from the last 6 years. A boost in power and torque (even if as an optional model and not a base) is badly needed. There needs to be a middle ground between 328hp/267tq and a rumored 550HP flagship sedan. Especially if they really want to position themselves with BMW/audi/mercedes and to an extent Lexus.

[superuber]

So I guess we are stuck with the M56 if we want some serious power. I like it but the M does say "old man"-sort of.

[tfree32]

Here are some nice pictures. I'm torn on whether I like the look. There's a fine line in my view for sport sedans, balancing being a classy sedan for a business person with being a sporty car that's fun to take out on a weekend. I think the styling is moving more toward the latter and away from the former.

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/d ... otogallery

[kmckis1029]

i love the interior and exterior styling... dissapointed by them keeping the vq37 engine and not updating it. they could of at least added Direct Ignition and got a HP and MPG boost. So im not excited like i was when the 2010 model came out. But yes there is hope that the coupe will be a different animal with a new engine, which would actually seperate the sedan and coupe past how many doors they have. I'll be back in the car market in 2015 so my hopes are up for a nice new coupe to sway me from getting something other than a Infiniti.

[audtatious]

Pictures and video are on the infinitiq50.net site as well

Yeah, I would hope they had a NA option of greater than 350hp minimum. As Joe mentioned the 540hp version, that would be great but the estimated price of 125k is WAY more than I would even think of paying. For that price I'd get one with a VQ37, change it to 8.x:1 compression, forged internals, and turbo the crap out of it....for about an additional 10-15k over car cost and more hp. That's about 1/2 the 125k cost of the new "IPL"

[joe603]

125k! Nissan needs something in-between the GTR and G50

[audtatious]

Yeah....I really hope the Q60 next year has over 400hp and is less than 50k.

[RED_DET]

Did you pinch yourself yet and wake up....

[Tim30250]

One can dream, can't one? I would buy a ~400HP Q50/60 in a heartbeat, but I don't think we would ever see one at a reasonable price. While I wasn't expecting the new Q to make HP in muscle car territory, I was hoping for a modest bump into the mid 300s. Historically, the G series got more HP after a couple years of production in each generation, so if they can get the Q series on the funner side of 350, I will probably upgrade. If not, my G37 only has 32K miles on it, so it can love me long time until a suitable replacement arrives.

[audtatious]

Did you pinch yourself yet and wake up....

Pretty much. Will have to get my fix elsewhere at some point.

[audtatious]

One can dream, can't one? I would buy a ~400HP Q50/60 in a heartbeat, but I don't think we would ever see one at a reasonable price. While I wasn't expecting the new Q to make HP in muscle car territory, I was hoping for a modest bump into the mid 300s. Historically, the G series got more HP after a couple years of production in each generation, so if they can get the Q series on the funner side of 350, I will probably upgrade. If not, my G37 only has 32K miles on it, so it can love me long time until a suitable replacement arrives.

Yeah....I'm not really too enthused about any sedans in the market today. May settle for a newer G to replace the wife's 2007 but even that is to be seen.

[RED_DET]

CTS-V Sedan is where its at, IMHO at this point in the game.

[audtatious]

CTS-V Sedan is where its at, IMHO at this point in the game.

Well, it's to replace the wife's car and while she has told me I can pick out the replacement she's doing the standard female "but but but" and does not want a V8 and hates the squared off look of the CTS.

I have 6 months or more before we get something so ill worry about it then.

[Tim30250]

CTS-V Sedan is where its at, IMHO at this point in the game.

That is a badass sedan, so is the BMW M3. Neither are in my price range, tho. I target cars with MSRP at $50K or less.

[SteveTheTech]

Here is what I'm thinking they are thinking about this. As far as engines what they have to do is use something that is running perfectly and well known while changing everything around it. Remember in 2007 when the G35 sedan was remodeled they has basically the same engine with some minor tweaks and it was upgraded over the course of the next model year and when the coupe followed it out it had a new engine. You will see a ton of change in the body but I bet most of the electronics are similar on the back side. Everything will be connected over at least two but as many as three Local Area Networks like many of the other models.

This more so than many models before is something I know my old shop theory teacher would really hate. He was one of the classics guys who thought the death of the automobile would caused by computer controlled fuel injection. Oh how far we have come since the days I was in school it was the late 90s and On Board Diagnostics (OBD) become the standard and now we have removing the final mechanical connection and replacing it with electric motors, consistently trusty electric motors. As a gear head with a technology problem Infiniti really has a lot to offer and has many promising ideas in mind for the future direction of the brand.

The Q40 will be an interesting model. Right now it sounds like a modern G20 replacement, which they have really been missing. The engine on this one sounds interesting. A 2.0 Turbo designed by Mercedes, build by Nissan in the US and probably used by a MB A class. That should be interesting.

I am still mad at them for not making the GT-R an Infiniti. No lie, that is the reason I really wanted to move there when I was with Nissan.

[bentrod]

Anyone else notice there's no regular clock in the Q50? First time isn't it?

[JohnD]

I must admit I had reservations about the look of the Q50 when I saw the photos. I saw it in real life today at the Toronto Auto Show and it looks very sharp. It does not look at all bulbous as it does in the photos. I suspect the photos were taken from close-up using a wide angle lens which would exaggerate the perspective.

So there is hope for Infiniti not screwing up the successor to the EX.

I also saw the concept car which is rumoured to foreshadow the next Murano and I thought it was too extreme. I hope the production version is toned down considerably.

On another note, looking a number of crossovers at the show, I didn't find one that I liked better than my wife's Murano or my EX35. So I have no excuse for buying a new car!